The European Commission says its primary focus is to achieve a negotiated outcome to avert 30 percent US tariffs that US President Donald Trump has said he will apply on 1 August. Photo: AFP
The European Union's member countries have voted to approve counter-tariffs on 93 billion euros (US$109b) of US goods, which could be imposed should the bloc fail to reach a trade deal with Washington, EU diplomats say.
The 27-nation bloc's executive European Commission had said on Wednesday (local time) its primary focus was to achieve a negotiated outcome with Washington to avert 30 percent US tariffs that US President Donald Trump has said he will apply on 1 August.
The commission said it would press on in parallel with plans for potential countermeasures, merging two packages of proposed tariffs of 21b euros and 72b euros into a single list and submitting this to EU members for approval.
No countermeasures would enter force until 7 August. So far the EU has held back from imposing any countermeasures, despite Trump's repeated announcements of tariffs, the broadest of which have been postponed. EU member states authorised the first package of countermeasures in April, but these were immediately suspended to allow time for negotiations.
The EU and United States appear to be heading towards a possible trade deal, according to EU diplomats, which would result in a broad 15 percent tariff on EU goods imported into the US, mirroring a framework agreement Washington struck with Japan. Trump would still need to take any final decision.
Under the outlines of the potential deal, the 15 percent rate could apply to sectors including cars and pharmaceuticals and would not be added to long-standing US duties, which average just under 5 percent.
There could also be concessions for sectors such as aircraft, lumber as well as some medicines and agricultural products, which would not face tariffs, diplomats said.
Washington does not, however, appear willing to lower its 50 percent tariff on steel.
- Reuters
